38 Thursday, 27 August 2009 London Lite LITESPORT Inbrief Button on track for a Spa break JENSON BUTTON reckons he can give his Formula One world title hopes a massive boost at one of his favourite tracks this weekend. The British driver still leads the championship, but has taken just 11 points in the last four races. But ahead of Sundays event at Spa he said: Thus is one of my favourite circuits. Its been a tough few races for me recently. But the car felt very good in Valencia and the pace was right up there. Davys in good Nik at Pilot Pen TOP SEED Nikolay Davydenko battled past Frances Fabrice Santoro in straight sets in the third round of the Pilot Pen Tennis Championships in New Haven. The Russian was pushed hard in the first set but won 7-5, before taking the second 6-3. There was also a win for Jurgen Melzer of Austria who defeated Romanias Victor Hanescu in three sets, finally securing victory with a 6-1 scoreline in the decider. Cricket to lose its best Friends THE England and Wales Cricket Board have confirmed there will not be a domestic 50-over competition from next season onwards. In the summer of 2010 counties will compete in the four-day LV Championship, a new-look Twenty20 competition and also a 40-over event to be played mainly on Sundays, but the 50-over Friends Provident Trophy has been dropped. Brit boys may not box clever BRITISH amateur boxers are unlikely to make much of an impact the forthcoming World Championships, according to a leading coach. GB fighters won three medals in Chicago two years ago, but fans have been warned not to expect the same in Milan next week. Mick Bromby, coach of European gold medallist Luke Campbell, said: Almost everybody is focusing mainly on getting to London 2012. Middlesex title push rained off NICK COMPTON made an unbeaten 52 for Middlesex in their top-of-the-table Pro40 Division Two match against Lancashire at Lords, but it was all in vain as the match was cut short by heavy rain. Compton helped the league leaders post 112-3 from 26.1 overs, but play was then suspended, with both teams awarded one point. Middlesex now remain one point ahead of Kent, but having played two games more. ADIL RASHID has vowed to use the one-day series against Australia to ensure the England selectorsareleftwithnooptionbuttopickhim for the winter tour of South Africa. The talented Yorkshire all-rounder is among a clutch of youngsters charged with the responsibility of filling the Andrew Flintoff sized hole in Andrew Strauss side. Stuart Broads matchwinning performance at The Brit Oval last week has put him in pole position, while Luke Wrights displays at the recent World Twenty20 highlighted his own game turning potential. But Rashids electric combination of wicket- taking leg-spin and prolific runscoring make him the most exciting prospect of the three. The Yorkshire star was described as one of the best things to come out of the World Twenty20 by head coach Andy Flower, and Rashid is keen to impress again. He said: Obviously nobody can replace Freddie like-for-like, the guy has performed incredibly over a long period of time for EnglandandImjustayoung kid starting out. ButIbelieveIcanperform at the top level in all formats of the game and obviously it was a massive lift to hear Andy talk about me in that w a y a f t e r t h e Wo r l d Twenty20. That tournament was a fantastic experience for me, playing against some of the best players in the world and I want to have a taste of that again. The 21-year-old was handed the chance to shineintodaysODIagainstIrelandinBelfast, ahead of the seven match series against Australia. Rashid already has four Twenty20 interna- tional appearances under his belt, but it is in the longer format of the game that he has designs on making an impact in. Flintoffs decision to quit the five-day arena and concentrate on the one-day game, which offers far greater financial benefits, sparked fears that a generation of young cricketers would follow suit. But not Rashid, who said: Its a disappoint- ment to see Freddie not in the Test side as hes someone I could have learned from. But hes made his own decision and we understand the reasons. But I cant see young guyslikemefollowinghimandjustconcentrat- ing on IPL and things like that. Theres money to be made from that, but that can come later in my career. Test cricket and playing for England is where I want to be making my name. Thats where the legends of cricket get their reputations and I want to be the same. Test cricket isnt going to die or go away. Its still the hardest form of the game which tests all your skills to the max. Thats where I see my self long-term. AdilRashidwassupportingtheASDA KwikCricketNationalFinalatHeadingley. TheASDAKwikCricketcompetitionis driving130,000boysandgirlsfrom12,000 PrimarySchoolsacrosstheUKtoget healthyandactivethroughcricket Pontingnotaversetotheideaofsplitcaptaincy RICKY PONTING is open to the idea of handing Michael Clarke the captaincy of the Austrlian Twenty20 and one-day teams, allowing him to focus solely Test cricket. The 28-year-old Clarke has already captained Australia in 11 limited-overs and two Twenty20 internationals. He was installed as Test vice-captain after the retirement of Adam Gilchrist, and led all Australian batsmen with 448 runs at 64.00 during the Ashes. Ponting (left) assumed the one-day leadership in 2002 while Steve Waugh was still at the helm of the Test side. The pair shared the captaincy until Waughs retirement from Test cricket in 2004. If thats the way that I or others outside of what Im thinking decide is the right way to go, theres absolutely no reason why that couldnt happen, Ponting said of splitting the captaincy with Clarke. It has happened in the past with Australian teams. It is happening with other teams around the world right at the moment. Those things need to be thought long and hard about if it means that Im going to be better off for Test matches. BY DAVID DIBBLE Itd be Rash to write Adil off for trip to South AfricaEXCLUSIVE BY JAMES GOLDMAN Spin sensation: Adil Rashid wants to force his way into the Test reckoning ahead of the tour of South Africa Twenty20 by head coach Andy Flower, impresstokeenisRashidand He said: Obviously nobody can replace Freddie like-for-like, the incrediblyperformedhasguy time forover a long period of youngajustImandEngland performcanIbelieveIBut formatsallinleveltoptheat the game and obviously itof heartoliftmassiveawas Andy talk about me in that Wo r l dt h ea f t e rw a y awastournamentThat me,forexperiencefantastic theplaying against some of weanddecisionownhismadehesBut youngseecantIButreasons.theunderstand concentrat-justandhimfollowingmelikeguys ing on IPL and things like that. Theres money to be made from that, but that can come later in my career. Test cricket betowantIwhereisEnglandforplayingand making my name. cricket getThats where the legends of their reputations and I want to be the goordietogoingisntcricketTestsame. theaway. Its still the hardest form of game which tests all your skills to TICKETSFORTHE ODIATTHELORDSUPPORGRABSLITESPORT and BOSS Fragrances, official partner of the England team, are offering a lucky reader the chance to win a pair of tickets to the second One Day International against Australia on Sunday, 6 September at Lords. The winner, courtesy of BOSS Fragrances, will have the chance to enjoy a fantastic day out. Following their fantastic Ashes victory expect Englands BOSS men, led by the captain Andrew Strauss, to shine. For the chance to win, simply answer the following question: Who was Englands leading wicket taker in the 2009 Ashes? Text LL SPORT with your answer, name and a number where you can be reached to 65400. (Texts cost 50p plus standard network charges). Or, e-mail us at sport.win@ thelondonlite.co.uk and leave the same details (please specify Boss in the subject field). All entries to be received by 9am tomorrow. Entrants must be over 18 (only one entry per person). Usual rules apply. Winners will be chosen at random. The editors decision is final.
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